A Guy's Guide To Growing Up

10 Awesome Sunglasses Inspired by Movies

We may not all be movie stars, but that doesn't mean we can't dress like we are. Look your best while protecting your eyes with our round up of 10 great looking pairs of sunglasses featured by Hollywood.

Updated! We've added some cheaper alternatives that are similar styles below. Hat tip to Billy K. in the comments!

There’s something to be said about a great pair of sunglasses. It can be an instant self-esteem booster. In fact, if a pair of sunglasses does its job right, it makes you feel like you’re the star of your own movie.

And with good reason. A measure of coolness in movies often revolves around what the protagonist wears, specifically, a hot pair of shades. Even movie posters, like the one for Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, feature sunglasses prominently in order to attract audiences (“It” girls like Kate Hudson aren’t too shabby, either).

Sometimes a movie becomes so popular that the sunglasses from said movie become popular, as well.

Here are 10 Awesome Sunglasses Inspired by Movies:

Persol 714 – The Thomas Crown Affair (1968). Let’s go back to the beginning of movie cool, starting with Steve McQueen, who looked oh-so chic in these honey-colored, blue-tinted shades (the blue tint was actually a specific McQueen trait).

Oliver Peoples Victory – Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005). These boxier, Aviator-style sunglasses are probably the only square thing about Brad Pitt (and in a good way!). Fun fact: these are also the shades you see on USA’s “Burn Notice.”

Tortoise shell Ray-Bans – Catch Me If You Can (2002). It takes a real man to pull off a patterned frame. But if anyone can do it, it’s Leonardo DiCaprio. Tom Hanks chased him throughout the film, but he probably just wanted to catch up with him so he could trade glasses.

Michael Kors S110 – The Kingdom (2007). Jamie Foxx may be known for his iconic look in glasses as Ray Charles in Ray (which won him the Academy Award), but it was his turn in 2007’s The Kingdom where he told that image to hit the road and sported these blazin’ hot shades.

Blublocker Demi Tortoise Nylon – The Hangover (2009). “We fucked up,” admits Bradley Cooper’s character Phil, clad in sexy Ray-Bans during the opening scene of the 2009 sleeper. Yet, audiences knew that despite Phil and the gang losing their best friend in Vegas, they hadn’t fucked up on style. Even Zach Galifianakis’ Alan, often the butt of many jokes in the film, donned these hip frames.

Von Zipper Unisex Adult Fulton – Iron Man 2 (2010). Tony Stark’s sunglasses in the sequel to Iron Man are part hipster, part deflectors of the sun, but all cool. And since they’re unisex, they’re even perfect for Pepper Potts.

Ray-Ban Wayfarer – Risky Business (1983). With his tousled hair, boyish charm, and million dollar grin (at the time, it wasn’t worth as many millions), Tom Cruise burst onto the scene in the 1980s, specifically with the film Risky Business, which helped launch his career. The black Wayfarers he wore in the film became iconic, eventually becoming a symbol of ‘80s style (see also: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Blues Brothers).

Mirrored Aviator – Top Gun (1986). Tom Cruise appears again on the list, in the homoerotic film that heterosexual men love (contains what will forever be known as, “the superfluous volleyball scene”). You can’t put on a pair of Aviators without wanting to call someone “Goose.”

What’s most appealing about sunglasses is that they hide people’s eyes. You can’t tell what a person is thinking because the lenses mask what many call the “windows to a person’s soul.” The same goes for the movies. Maybe a protagonist is only a pitch-perfect symbol of cool because you can’t see how scared he is behind his shades.

Which are your favorite? Have any favorite movie sunglasses we missed? Leave them in the comments!

Update! Thanks to Billy K. for directing us to Topman, which offers some cheaper alternatives to the styles above.

Megan McLachlan currently resides in the Pittsburgh area where she freelance writes, drinks coffee, and obsesses over popular culture. She was an English major, but doesn't think she wasted her life. Yet. Her blog is megoblog.com.

You can get a much more inexpensive version of all of these on Topman. I was shocked.

Luke

I am definitely keen on the Oliver Peoples Victory sunnies! But specificallythe ones from Burn Notice (they are a bit different to the ones shown in the link here).
The sunnies worn by Michael Westen are Oliver Peoples Victory sunglasses in size 55 with Gold frames and Cognac lenses. Apparently pretty hard to come by if you want the exact same ones. 🙁

http://www.primermagazine.com Andrew

Luke, I wonder if you check a place that will do them in prescription if it’s any easier?

http://www.primermagazine.com Andrew

Billy, good find! There are a bunch of similar ones on there. I’ve updated the article to include some of them. Thanks!

billy k

No problem, Andrew. I am going to be jumping on the manly blog bandwagon as soon as I have some more free time from work. I hope to get some of your expertise in the process. http://www.5ocs.com

Hey Charles, I believe the Blues Brothers are the Ray Ban Wayfarer that’s featured. The MIB sunglasses are a little too ‘Oakley’ for my taste.

David

Andrew thanks for the response, its always hard to find sunglasses

Jal Lenma

Actually, Ferris Bueller sported Ray Ban Clubmasters, not Wayfarers

http://www.primermagazine.com Andrew

We got them too! 🙂

Kyle

Not sure if it really inspired a popular movement to wear the sunglasses, but George Clooney in Three Kings was the first time I remember seeing RE’s squared-off aviators. I wanted them for about 10 years until they really became popular and I found out who made them. Finally have a pair!

http://www.focus-eyewear.co.uk/ fetamy

Jal Lenma I agreed.

http://win7dl.com Movies

I want to thank the blogger very much not only for this post but also for his all previous efforts. I found your blog to be extremely interesting. I will be coming back. CU

Ben

I have to say that to me those Wayfarers dwarf Cruise’s face. Way too big. I think the “New Wayfarers” are better in every way. I just got some last month and they are, in my opinion, fantastic. Same look, but better executed, and much better fitting for the average face!

Cheers,
Ben

http://www.woodensunglasses.com Wood

I really am digging the sunglasses Zach Galifianakis and Tom Cruise are wearing. The classic aviator and wayfarer styles.

Valery

Does anybody know which sunglasses Mr Nice is wearing in the mvie Mr Nice?

anonymous

totally forgot D’Annunzio’s shades from the Caddyshack pool scene

Daniel

Hi there, interesting the information above. By any chance anybody knows which sunglasse did Michael Douglas used in the movie TRAFFIC?
I have been trying to find out and haven’t had any luck. Please help me if you can. Thanks a lot in advance.

MikeM

I loved the sunglasses they wore in the Matrix films. Bit dated now, alas ;(

David

I love the type sunglasses Cuba Gooding jr. wears in the movie The Hit List (2011) Does anyone knows what Brand/Model it is. Thanx.

Devoted sunglass wearer, tried many of the “best” but without a doubt the sweetest are the Oakley Inmate sunglasses that Denzel Washington wore in “Book of Eli.” Most compliments of any shades I’ve owned by far.

Beaconmike

I looked and looked for the sunglasses Mel Gibson wore in ‘What Women Want’. Any ideas, anyone???

Trisync

Still looking for the glasses worn by Jamie Foxx in Ray.the ones with the emblems on the arms.

nick

I wanna get me a pair of ray charles style sunglasses but I hate those stupid looking jewels on them it would be great to get a plain all black pair

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